“What’s up Mr. Morris?” I asked.
“Nothing much. How’s the fam?” He asked while closing the tabs out on his computer.
“They’re good.”
“Good.” He said as if he was trying to avoid eye contact with me.
“So what’s up? Larry told me to come holla at you.”
“Yeah….I needed to talk to you.”
“Mr. Morris, you’re killing me with the suspense, man. What’s up?”
“I’m sorry that I have to say this, but I have to let you go, son.”
“What?! Why?” I yelled. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, but Mr. Morris knew I needed this job. Yeah, my mother was still helping me out from time to time, but I was trying to save up and get my own spot this year.
“You know, I don’t actually own this company, I’m just the supervisor. The actual owner of the company wants to make some changes and hire those who have completed certain certifications. Now, it’s my fault for not being on you and telling you to get the other certification done. Still, he’s not letting me give anyone any slack to finally get it done. And not to mention, he wants those who have a degree too. Shit has changed around here, and I don’t think I’ll even be around long.”
“A degree? Man, I have my high school diploma, that doesn’t mean shit?”
“It’s not enough anymore, at least nowadays. I’m sorry, son. I tried to plead your case and told him that you were good and had a family to take care of. But you know them cracka’ ass crackers don’t care about a black man trying to feed his family. It’s his company and his say so. Your last day is today. You can pick up your last check on Friday and return your uniform.” He said as he ran his hand down his face like he was more stressed than I was. I didn’t have a backup plan, hell I never thought I needed one. I was hoping to leave this sorry-ass job before they got rid of me. I honestly couldn’t be upset because I got too comfortable. Usually, when you got comfortable, shit just started coming up.
“Thanks for the opportunity, Mr. Morris,” I said as I got up from my seat.
“I’m sorry again, son. You can file for unemployment until you find something else.”
“Yeah, I’ll consider it,” I said as I opened up the office and walked out.
∞∞∞
As I walked from the Rhode Island train station to Aniyah’s house, I kept thinking about how it couldn’t get any worse. I was so deep into my thoughts that I didn’t notice Roon walking next to me.
“Man, you gotta stop doing that shit. That’s how niggas get caught slippin’.”
“Not right now, bruh. I’m not in the mood.” I stressed. Roon was my boy, but I wasn’t in the mood for his streetphonics. I had to make something shake and soon because I have a family to care for. If I would’ve known that I was going to lose my job only three months into the new year, I would’ve saved more and definitely put in more overtime. Not to mention, I would’ve waited to buy Aniyah her engagement ring. During Christmas and even after, we spent a lot of time together, and I decided to stop waiting around and just make shit official. I was going to propose on her birthday, which was two weeks away. I planned on getting us a hotel, go out to eat, then have the room set up all romantically and shit so I could propose when we got back.
“Fuck wrong with you? Aniyah getting on your nerves?”
“Nah. I’m about to go to her crib and hope she relieve some of this stress. I got fired today.” I shared.
“Damn. why?”
“Something about the owner wanting niggas with degrees to work for him. A high school diploma doesn’t mean shit anymore.”
“It never meant shit to me but a piece of paper telling the world you’re not dumb,” Roon said, then started to light a blunt he must've had behind his ear.
“Facts. Now I have to figure out what’s next. I was trying to get my own crib and shit. I’m about to propose to Aniyah. I can’t propose the way I want to without having money now.”
“Propose? You sure, son?”
“Yeah. It’s time to stop playing games and just get this shit over with. We’ve been together long enough, might as well.”
“Shit, I’ll make her ass wait a little longer. What is she bringing to the table? Your shit has to be 50/50.”
“Yeah, I know. I mean, she’s in school now trying to become an RN.”
“Just like the majority of the bitches in the hood.” Roon joked.
“Well, she’s trying. I see her effort.”
“You give her way more credit than she deserves. But I’m about to check out one of my spots. Look, if you need a job until you find one in the white man’s world, I may have something so that you could feed your family and get a spot for them.”
“Thanks, man, but you know I’m not trying to get involved in that street shit.”
“I just need somebody to count my money and make sure niggas ain’t stiffing me. I know you’re good at counting and with numbers. I don’t trust many people, but you’re my man- more like my right hand.”
“I’ll think about it and let you know,” I said as we dapped up. Then ee went our separate ways.
∞∞∞
I got to Aniyah’s mother’s house in about five minutes. I usually picked the girls up first, but I was hoping that Aniyah could give me a pick-me-up since I was having a bad day. As soon as I was by the gate that led to her house, I immediately saw the black Charger that Ms.Brenda told me about, parked right outside of
